During Wednesday's morning practice, Los Angeles Lakers Head Coach Byron Scott allowed reporters to watch as Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash played in a full court scrimmage along with their Lakers teammates.
This was the first time the two 19-year veterans had played together in about a year and a half.
Wednesday, however, was not any regular pickup game with only coaches watching. Independent referees were onsite blowing whistles, and both teams were strategizing in separated huddles. For the final scrimmage of the morning practice, television cameras were recoring, reporters were tweeting and scouts were documenting every move. The stands may not have been filled with thousands of fans, but there is pressure in playing under the watchful eyes of the press, general manager Mitch Kupchak, team scouts and team owner Jim Buss.
Always in the spotlight, both Bryant and Nash looked great, and the veteran duo combined well. Scott’s post-practice press conference even started with the coach answering a question that was never asked: “Kobe looked good.”
On Wednesday, the rumors of Bryant and Nash’s deaths had been greatly exaggerated, it seemed. Coach Scott made a point to say he was most impressed by how sharp the duo looked considering the long layoffs both men had experienced. Barring any setbacks, the Lakers’ coach confirmed that both Nash and Bryant would start in the Lakers’ preseason opener in San Diego on Oct. 6.
After the practice ended, Bryant spoke with reporters and echoed the same sentiments as Tuesday’s practice. He was healthy. He felt fine. There was no checklist of tests. He was ready.
Bryant repeated “I feel good” and “I feel fine” numerous times to answer questions as he quickly lost patience with reporters’ questions.
“I’m past progressions,” Bryant said as he lost his patience with the questions about his health. “I am what I am right now. I don’t know how to best say that. I’m me.”
